Before H.E.R.B.I.E. Can Answer, Porkum Asks Sue Storm Out On A Date

In the back of Sue Storm's closet was an all-black unstable molecule ankle-length dress that Nick Fury had made for one of the Invisible Woman's little missions. It clung to her body like black latex, and Malice smiled as she cut the skirt of the long dress, all the way to the hip, to show off her leg. The sleeves she discarded, and the cleavage she cut low. When the blonde slipped into the dress, with Sue's laciest black thong, the dress barely hung off her shoulders, and threatened to show her braless breasts at any active motion...though hidden ribs offered her breasts a fair amount of support, even as they cupped her tits and showed them off to best advantage.

"Scandalous," Malice said as she slipped into Sue's tallest, spikiest black heels.

The villain did a twirl before the mirror and enjoyed the swish of the open skirt. Her wounded thigh was effectively hidden, at least for now. The blonde touched the wound and frowned. She didn't like the idea of being injured.

"Whoever did this to me shall pay," she swore to her reflection.

She stalked off, to where her memories told her the Fantastic Four kept the wine. A door off the kitchen led to a narrow sort of closet, dark and cool, where the bottles rested in niches in the wall. Malice's fingers traced the old labels. Gifts from friends, heads of state and the like, mostly. They didn't drink much. Her hand settled on their most expensive bottle of champagne, and Malice's lips twisted into a little smile. She deserved a glass of something to dull the pain.

"Mrs. Richards, you should not consume ****," H.E.R.B.I.E. said. She turned and saw the little robot hovered at the threshold to the closet.

"Why?" Malice growled.

"Analysis of the sample is still ongoing," H.E.R.B.I.E. said. "But certain compounds resemble psychotropic medications. Combination with **** is contradindicated. **** may nullify effects of such medications and increase side-effects, including increased anxiety, depression, mood swings..."

"No booze," Malice translated, as she let her fingers leave the champagne bottle. Her wounded leg itched and throbbed. She could feel how tired she was. It was well after midnight, and her body was exhausted. Yet Malice dared not sleep until H.E.R.B.I.E. had finished his analysis. Until she could be sure that it was Malice, not Sue Storm, who would wake up.

Then the chime rang. The one that said someone was requesting entrance. Malice moved to the nearest wall-mounted console, and the flat screen flickered into life.

An immense man dressed in a grey pinstripe suit stood in the lobby. His head was a grotesque parody of a pig's; covered with scrabby hair, with a broad, low brow. The figure grinned up at the camera, and Malice immediately recognized him from Sue's memories. Even more ludicrous than seeing him in a suit was noting that he carried a bouquet of those pink roses in one arm, and a heart-shaped red box in the other. The kind that often carried chocolates...

"Porkum," she said aloud. Curious, she touched the console to allow speech.

"Miss Storm," Porkum said. "I hope I'm not intruding. I was just up late making a fresh batch of bonbons...and I was wondering...well, if you were awake, if you'd like to go out tonight?"

Sue Storm would have had choice words for anyone with the effrontery to ask her to step out on her husband. Malice, however, felt a little thrill at the concept. More importantly, she eyed those chocolates. With enough of those, she could stay Malice for a week or more. Porkum made them. He had to know the source of the ingredients that had resulted in Malice's re-emergence. If she could wring that information from him...

Malice pressed another button. Her image appeared on the screen in the lobby. And her voice.

"Well, Mr. Porkum. This is unexpected. However, I am curious. Why don't you come upstairs and we can discuss it?"

She pressed the authorization to buzz him through, and unlock the elevator. With a confident swagger, the pig-man sauntered forward. His plan was coming together...but he had no idea of who was really waiting for him up above.